#BookReview Better Than People by Roan Parrish @RoanParrish @CarinaPress @HarlequinBooks @Bookclubbish #HarlequinPublicityTeam #CarinaAdores #RoanParrish

#BookReview Better Than People by Roan Parrish @RoanParrish @CarinaPress @HarlequinBooks @Bookclubbish #HarlequinPublicityTeam #CarinaAdores #RoanParrish Title: Better Than People

Author: Roan Parrish

Published by: Carina Adores on Aug. 25, 2020

Genres: Contemporary Romance, LGBTQIA

Pages: 336

Format: Paperback

Source: Harlequin Books

Book Rating: 8/10

It’s not long before their pet-centric arrangement sparks a person-centric desire…

Simon Burke has always preferred animals to people. When the countdown to adopting his own dog is unexpectedly put on hold, Simon turns to the PetShare app to find the fluffy TLC he’s been missing. Meeting a grumpy children’s book illustrator who needs a dog walker isn’t easy for the man whose persistent anxiety has colored his whole life, but Jack Matheson’s menagerie is just what Simon needs.

Four dogs, three cats and counting. Jack’s pack of rescue pets is the only company he needs. But when a bad fall leaves him with a broken leg, Jack is forced to admit he needs help. That the help comes in the form of the most beautiful man he’s ever seen is a complicated, glorious surprise.

Being with Jack—talking, walking, making out—is a game changer for Simon. And Simon’s company certainly…eases the pain of recovery for Jack. But making a real relationship work once Jack’s cast comes off will mean compromise, understanding and lots of love.

Carina Adores is home to highly romantic contemporary love stories where LGBTQ+ characters find their happily-ever-afters.


Review:

Alluring, passionate, and adorably sweet!

Better Than People is a sensitive, touching tale about the kind, aggrieved, talented Jack who is not only struggling psychologically to come to terms with his long-time friend/business partner’s betrayal but also the frustration of being housebound due to a broken leg, as well as the shy, extremely anxious, graphic designer Simon who longs for companionship from someone other than his grandmother and a bunch of four-legged creatures with fur.

The prose is intimate and smooth. The characters are vulnerable, sincere, and endearing. And the plot is a heartfelt tale filled with life, love, family, intimacy, chemistry, heat, desire, romance, light drama, furry friends with lots of personalities, and the struggles of coping with extreme anxiety.

Overall, Better Than People is a heartwarming, emotive, deliciously steamy novel by Parrish about two unique, compassionate men who find the sensitivity, tenderness, solace, and intimacy they need and deserve in each other.

 

This book is publishing on August 25, 2020.

Pick up a copy from your favourite retailer or from one of the following links.

          

 

 

Thank you to Carina Adores for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.

 

About Roan Parrish

Roan Parrish lives in Philadelphia, where she is gradually attempting to write love stories in every genre.

When not writing, she can usually be found cutting her friends’ hair, meandering through whatever city she’s in while listening to torch songs and melodic death metal, or cooking overly elaborate meals. She loves bonfires, winter beaches, minor chord harmonies, and self-tattooing. One time she may or may not have baked a six-layer chocolate cake and then thrown it out the window in a fit of pique.

She is represented by Courtney Miller-Callihan of Handspun Literary Agency.

Photograph courtesy of Author's Goodreads Page.

#BookReview The Hollow Ones by Guillermo del Toro & Chuck Hogan @HBGCanada @GrandCentralPub #TheHollowOnes

#BookReview The Hollow Ones by Guillermo del Toro & Chuck Hogan @HBGCanada @GrandCentralPub #TheHollowOnes Title: The Hollow Ones

Author: Guillermo del Toro, Chuck Hogan

Series: Blackwood Tapes #1

Published by: Grand Central Publishing on Aug. 4, 2020

Genres: Mystery/Thriller, Horror

Pages: 326

Format: Paperback, ARC

Source: HBG Canada

Book Rating: 7.5/10

A horrific crime that defies ordinary explanation. A rookie FBI agent in dangerous, uncharted territory. An extraordinary hero for the ages. Odessa Hardwicke’s life is derailed when she’s forced to turn her gun on her partner, Walt Leppo, a decorated FBI agent who turns suddenly, inexplicably violent while apprehending a rampaging murderer. The shooting, justified by self-defense, shakes the young FBI agent to her core. Devasted, Odessa is placed on desk leave pending a full investigation. But what most troubles Odessa isn’t the tragedy itself-it’s the shadowy presence she thought she saw fleeing the deceased agent’s body after his death. Questioning her future with the FBI and her sanity, Hardwicke accepts a low-level assignment to clear out the belongings of a retired agent in the New York office. What she finds there will put her on the trail of a mysterious figure named John Silence, a man of enormous means who claims to have been alive for centuries, and who is either an unhinged lunatic, or humanity’s best and only defense against unspeakable evil.


Review:

Dark, creepy, and mystifying!

The Hollow Ones is an intense, supernatural thriller that takes you into the lives of three main characters, Odessa Hardwicke, Earl Solomon, and John Blackwood as their paths connect and intertwine on the hunt for the most unexplainable, wicked souls who have decided to terrorize and rack up body counts in the New York area.

The prose is calculated and gritty. The characters are unique, determined, and mysterious. And the plot, using a past/present, back-and-forth style unravels quickly into a horrifying tale of gruesome violence, senseless murder, immortal beings, a mysterious mailbox, and the shadowy corners of the unknown.

Overall, The Hollow Ones is an intricate, eerie, creative tale by del Toro and Hogan that gets more enigmatic with every page you turn and is definitely a good choice for occult fiction fans everywhere.

 

This novel is available now.

Pick up a copy from your favourite retailer or from one of the following links.

            

 

 

Thank you to HBG Canada for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.

 

About Chuck Hogan

Chuck Hogan is an American author. His story "Two Thousand Volts" appeared in The Best American Mystery Stories 2009. He is the co-author of The Strain Trilogy with Guillermo del Toro. His 2004 novel Prince of Thieves was adapted to film as the Ben Affleck directed The Town in 2010.

About Guillermo del Toro

Guillermo del Toro is a Mexican director mostly known for his acclaimed films Pan's Labyrinth, The Devils Backbone, Crimson Peak and the Hellboy film franchise. His films draw heavily on sources as diverse as weird fiction, fantasy, horror, and war. In 2009, Del Toro released his debut novel, The Strain, co-authored with Chuck Hogan, as the first part of The Strain Trilogy, an apocalyptic horror series featuring vampires. The series continued with The Fall in 2010 and concluded with The Night Eternal in 2011.

#BookReview The Skeptical Physick (The Sockbridge Series #2) by Gail Avery Halverson @gailhalv #TheSkepticalPhysick

#BookReview The Skeptical Physick (The Sockbridge Series #2) by Gail Avery Halverson @gailhalv #TheSkepticalPhysick Title: The Skeptical Physick

Author: Gail Avery Halverson

Series: Stockbridge #2

Published by: Knight Wenstrom Publishers on Sep. 8, 2019

Genres: Historical Fiction

Pages: 337

Format: Paperback

Source: Gail Avery Halverson

Book Rating: 9/10

In this gripping follow up to “The Boundary Stone,” Lady Catherine Abbott’s life takes an unexpected turn when an abused young woman forces her to examine the privileges of 17th century aristocratic English society, the roles of women, and her own place in the world.

Determined to discover the mysteries of the human body, daring physick, Simon McKensie, fights once more against superstition, ignorance and the vast, unknown boundaries of science when he creates a remarkable experiment that could change the very course of medicine itself.

Set against the sweeping backdrop of both the Great Fire of London and the extraordinary discoveries of the Scientific Revolution, Simon and Catherine together must face the villainous consequences of his fierce, intellectual curiosity and his dangerous thirst for knowledge.


Review:

Multilayered, alluring, and exceptionally atmospheric!

The Skeptical Physick is a rich, informative tale that picks up right where The Boundary Stone left off taking us back to seventeenth-century London and into the lives of Simon and Catherine as they endure one of the most devasting disasters of all time, The Great Fire of London while continuing to also battle those who frown upon, discount, and discourage scientific exploration and medical research.

The prose is eloquent and vivid. The characters are reliable, selfless, and courageous. And the plot is an immersive, fascinating tale of life, loss, love, optimism, bravery, tragedy, devastation, romance, and the procedures and evolution of early medicine.

Overall, The Skeptical Physick is another beautifully written, incredibly enthralling tale by Halverson that grabs you from the very first page and does an exceptional job of blending historical facts with fiction that is both enlightening and wonderfully compelling.

This novel is available now.

Pick up a copy from your favourite retailer or from one of the following links.

    

 

 

Thank you to Gail Avery Halverson for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.

 

About Gail Avery Halverson

Award-winning writer, Gail Avery Halverson, is the author of The Boundary Stone, and its sequel, The Skeptical Physick, a historical romance novel set in 1666 England at the time of the Great Fire and the Scientific Revolution. The Boundary Stone is a Chaucer Award Finalist (historical fiction), a Cygnus Award Finalist (speculative fiction), and a Chatelaine Award Winner (historical romantic fiction). The Skeptical Physick is currently long-listed for both the Chatelaine and the Chaucer Awards. Ms. Halverson is also the writer/producer for “Take it From The Top,” (sitcom pilot, Twin One Productions, Inc.), as well as the playwright and composer of musical plays that have been performed for nearly 300,000 children since 2004. Writing for both theater and television, she holds a B.A. in English Literature/Communications from the University of California, Davis, and is currently at work on the third novel in the Stockbridge Series. She lives in Northern California with her husband and son.

Photograph courtesy of Author's Goodreads Page.

#BookReview Family for Beginners by Sarah Morgan @SarahMorgan_ @HarlequinBooks #FamilyforBeginners #SarahMorgan #HarlequinPublicityTeam

#BookReview Family for Beginners by Sarah Morgan @SarahMorgan_ @HarlequinBooks #FamilyforBeginners #SarahMorgan #HarlequinPublicityTeam Title: Family for Beginners

Author: Sarah Morgan

Published by: HQN Books on Sep. 24, 2019

Genres: Contemporary Romance, Women's Fiction

Pages: 368

Format: Paperback

Source: Harlequin Books

Book Rating: 10/10

New York florist Flora Donovan is living the dream, but her bubbly optimism hides a secret. She’s lonely. Orphaned as a child, she’s never felt like she’s belonged anywhere…until she meets Jack Parker. He’s the first man to ever really see her, and it’s life changing.

Teenager Izzy Parker is holding it together by her fingertips. Since her mother passed away a year ago, looking after her dad and little sister is the only thing that makes Izzy feel safe. Discovering her father has a new girlfriend is her worst nightmare—she is not in the market for a replacement mom. Then her father invites Flora on their summer vacation…

Flora’s heart aches for Izzy, but she badly wants her relationship with Jack to work. As the summer unfolds, Flora must push her own boundaries to discover parts of herself she never knew existed—and to find the family she’s always wanted.


Review:

Poignant, sweet, and undeniably heartwarming!

Family for Beginners is an evocative, captivating tale that delves into the complex bonds and emotional ties between family members and immerses you in a tale about confronting the past, accepting the things you cannot change, following your heart, learning to trust, and embracing the future.

The prose is smooth and polished. The characters are lonely, sorrowful, and conflicted. And the story is an exceptionally absorbing tale about life, loss, love, grief, adultery, acceptance, forgiveness, familial drama, friendship, teenage angst, loneliness, communication, contentment and romance.

Overall, Family for Beginners is a beautiful mix of heart, happiness, and hope. And it’s no secret that Sarah Mogan is one of my favourite authors, and once again with this moving, emotive, affecting tale she didn’t disappoint.

This novel is available now.

Pick up a copy from your favourite retailer or from one of the following links.

            

 

 

 

Thank you to Harlequin Books for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.

 

About Sarah Morgan

USA Today bestselling author Sarah Morgan writes contemporary romance and her trademark humour and sensuality have gained her fans across the globe. She is a 3 time winner of the prestigious RITA® Award from the Romance Writers of America and has been nominated five times. Sarah lives near London, England, and when she isn’t reading or writing she loves being outdoors.

#BookReview The Night Swim by Megan Goldin @megangoldin @StMartinsPress #TheNightSwim

#BookReview The Night Swim by Megan Goldin @megangoldin @StMartinsPress #TheNightSwim Title: The Night Swim

Author: Megan Goldin

Published by: St. Martin's Press on Aug. 4, 2020

Genres: Mystery/Thriller

Pages: 352

Format: Paperback, ARC

Source: St. Martin's Press

Book Rating: 9/10

In this new thriller from the author of The Escape Room, a podcast host covering a controversial trial in a small town becomes obsessed with a brutal crime that took place there years before.

After the first season of her true crime podcast became an overnight sensation and set an innocent man free, Rachel Krall is now a household name―and the last hope for thousands of people seeking justice. But she’s used to being recognized for her voice, not her face. Which makes it all the more unsettling when she finds a note on her car windshield, addressed to her, begging for help.

The small town of Neapolis is being torn apart by a devastating rape trial. The town’s golden boy, a swimmer destined for Olympic greatness, has been accused of raping a high school student, the beloved granddaughter of the police chief. Under pressure to make Season Three a success, Rachel throws herself into interviewing and investigating―but the mysterious letters keep showing up in unexpected places. Someone is following her, and she won’t stop until Rachel finds out what happened to her sister twenty-five years ago. Officially, Jenny Stills tragically drowned, but the letters insists she was murdered―and when Rachel starts asking questions, nobody seems to want to answer. The past and present start to collide as Rachel uncovers startling connections between the two cases that will change the course of the trial and the lives of everyone involved.

Electrifying and propulsive, The Night Swim asks: What is the price of a reputation? Can a small town ever right the wrongs of its past? And what really happened to Jenny?


Review:

Raw, impactful, and thought-provoking!

The Night Swim is a slow-burning, intense mystery that introduces us to the tenacious, driven, podcast-host Rachel Krall as she heads to Neapolis, North Carolina to cover the rape trial of a sixteen-year-old teen by the local superstar athlete and ends up in turn also unexpectedly investigating a twenty-five-year-old murder.

The writing is sharp and edgy. The characters are intelligent, relentless, and determined. And the complex plot told from alternating POVs and through a mixture of narration and podcast-style musings subtly unfolds into a chilling tale of scandal, consent, deception, reputation, coercion, injustice, class division, violence, and murder.

Overall, The Night Swim is a dark, gripping, sensitive tale by Goldin that packs a real emotional punch and does an exceptional job of highlighting the psychological and emotional devastation caused by rape and the cultural stigmatization that regrettably still surrounds it.

 

This novel is available now.

Pick up a copy from your favourite retailer or from one of the following links.

                

 

 

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for providing me with a copy of this story in exchange for an honest review.

 

About Megan Goldin

MEGAN GOLDIN worked as a correspondent for Reuters and other media outlets where she covered war, peace, international terrorism and financial meltdowns in the Middle East and Asia. She is now based in Melbourne, Australia where she raises three sons and is a foster mum to Labrador puppies learning to be guide dogs. THE ESCAPE ROOM was her debut novel.

Photograph courtesy of Author's Goodreads Page.

 

#BookReview The Love Scam by MaryJanice Davidson @smpromance @StMartinsPress #TheLoveScam #smpromance

#BookReview The Love Scam by MaryJanice Davidson @smpromance @StMartinsPress #TheLoveScam #smpromance Title: The Love Scam

Author: MaryJanice Davidson

Published by: St. Martin's Griffin on Aug. 4, 2020

Genres: Contemporary Romance

Pages: 320

Format: Paperback, ARC

Source: St. Martin's Press

Book Rating: 7/10

A sweet and sassy contemporary romance from New York Timesbestselling author MaryJanice Davidson.

Rake Tarbell is in trouble. When the fabulously wealthy and carefree bachelor wakes up horribly hungover in Venice, it’s not something that would normally be a problem…except he has no idea how he got there from California. Or who stole his wallet. Or who emptied his bank account of millions. Or who in the world is Lillith, the charming little girl claiming to be his long lost daughter. For the first time in his life, Rake is on his own and throwing Benjamins around aren’t going to solve his problem. Now if only the gorgeous, fun, and free-spirited woman who brought Lillith into his life was willing to help the situation…

Claire Delaney finds Rake’s problems hilarious and is not in the least bit sorry of adding to them by bringing Lillith into the mix. A pretty Midwestern girl with a streak for mischief, Rake is not the kind of man Claire hangs around with. Even if he is drop-dead handsome and charming as all get-out. Even if he needs help and she has all the answers. But if this helps Lillith, she will go out of her way. And with a guy like Rake, she’s willing to bend her rules a bit for some fun. But when adventure-filled days turn to romantic nights as they search for answers, and someone starts following them through the streets of Venice, Claire realizes she’s playing more than just a game. And maybe, just maybe, she isn’t willing to let go of Rake or Lillith just yet.


Review:

Quirky, cute, and lighthearted!

The Love Scam is an intriguing, edgy story that transports you to Venice, Italy and into the life of the rich, handsome Rake Tarbell who wakes up with a wicked hangover, no phone, no memory of how he got there, and in the unexpected presence of a woman with a hidden agenda and a little girl who may or may not be his daughter.

The writing is creative and witty. The characters are unique, charming, and likeable. And the plot, along with all the subplots, intertwine and unravel quickly into a humourous tale filled with family, friendship, danger, mystique, oddball situations, hilarious mishaps, and outrageous adventures.

Overall, The Love Scam is an intricate, lively, funny tale by Davidson that is a little hard to follow at times with its complex plot and excessive use of internal monologues but is nevertheless extremely entertaining.

 

This book is available now.

Pick up a copy from your favourite retailer or from the following links.

               

 

 

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.

 

About MaryJanice Davidson

MARYJANICE DAVIDSON is the international best-selling author of several books, including the Betsy the Vampire Queen series. Her books have been translated into several languages and are available in fifteen countries. She writes a bi-weekly column for USA Today and frequently speaks to book clubs, writer's groups, teaches writing workshops, and attends conferences all over the world. She has published books, novellas, articles, short stories, recipes, and movie reviews.

Photo by Mac McGoon Studio.

#BookReview Summer on Moonlight Bay by Hope Ramsay @HopeRamsay @readforeverpub @grandcentralpub #ReadForever #Forever20 #HopeRamsay

#BookReview Summer on Moonlight Bay by Hope Ramsay @HopeRamsay @readforeverpub @grandcentralpub #ReadForever #Forever20 #HopeRamsay Title: Summer on Moonlight Bay

Author: Hope Ramsay

Series: Moonlight Bay #2

Published by: Forever on Aug. 6, 2020

Genres: Contemporary Romance

Pages: 717

Format: Paperback

Source: Forever

Book Rating: 10/10

Only one thing can make veterinarian Noah Cuthbert return to Magnolia Harbor-his mother’s failing health. He’ll do anything to help his family, including taking a short-term gig at the local animal clinic. What he doesn’t count on is getting up-close-and-personal with the clinic’s new manager, a woman whose love and compassion for every stray that crosses her path has him rethinking his plans to head back to his big-city life…

After her time in the Navy, Lia wants nothing more than to settle down. The quaint seaside town is just what she’d been hoping for, and not just because her new boss is movie-star handsome. As they grow closer, Lia starts wondering if Noah could be the one. But when a town crisis forces Noah to take a stand that jeopardizes their new-found happiness, can Lia convince him that home doesn’t have to be a four-letter word?

Includes the bonus novel Then There Was You by Miranda Liasson!


Review:

Comforting, charming, and sweet!

Summer on Moonlight Bay is a heartwarming, engaging story that reminds us that sometimes it’s nice to make roots, settle down, and find a place to call home.

The writing is fluid and warm. The setting is the idyllic Magnolia Harbor, South Carolina with its quaint town and sandy beaches. The characters including the spirited, kindhearted Lia, the helpful, handsome Noah, and the adorably cute Prince are lovable, fun, and unique. And the plot is a lighthearted, uplifting journey about life, love, family, friendship, reconnecting with the past, healing, self-discovery, and happiness.

Overall, Summer on Moonlight Bay is a delightfully clever, amusing tale by Ramsay with a splendid cast of characters, beautiful locale, delicious romance, and a dab of drama that makes it the perfect pick for any sunny day.

This book is available now.

Pick up a copy from your favourite retailer or from one of the following links.

            

 

 

Thank you to Forever & Grand Central Publishing for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.

 

About Hope Ramsay

Hope Ramsay is a USA Today bestselling author of heartwarming contemporary romances set below the Mason-Dixon Line. Her children are grown, but she has a couple of fur babies who keep her entertained. Pete the cat, named after the cat in the children’s books, thinks he’s a dog, and Daisy the dog thinks Pete is her best friend except when he decides her wagging tail is a cat toy. Hope lives in the medium-sized town of Fredericksburg, Virginia, and when she’s not writing or walking the dog, she spends her time knitting and noodling around on her collection of guitars.

#BookReview Paris Never Leaves You by Ellen Feldman @StMartinsPress #ParisNeverLeavesYou

#BookReview Paris Never Leaves You by Ellen Feldman @StMartinsPress #ParisNeverLeavesYou Title: Paris Never Leaves You

Author: Ellen Feldman

Published by: St. Martin's Press on Aug. 4, 2020

Genres: Historical Fiction

Pages: 368

Format: Paperback, ARC

Source: St. Martin's Press

Book Rating: 8/10

Living through WWII working in a Paris bookstore with her young daughter, Vivi, and fighting for her life, Charlotte is no victim, she is a survivor. But can she survive the next chapter of her life?

Alternating between wartime Paris and 1950s New York publishing, Paris Never Leaves You is an extraordinary story of resilience, love, and impossible choices, exploring how survival never comes without a cost.

The war is over, but the past is never past.


Review:

Nuanced, pensive, and intriguing!

Paris Never Leaves You is an atmospheric, compelling story set in Manhattan in the 1950s, as well as Paris during WWII that takes you into the life of Charlotte Foret, a young widow who spent the majority of the war running a bookshop, protecting her infant daughter, hiding an enormous secret, and befriending a German Officer who had the means to provide the much-needed food and safety she needed for survival.

The prose is precise and vivid. The characters are complex, secretive, and vulnerable. And the plot using a past/present, back-and-forth style is an engaging tale about life, loss, war, heartbreak, guilt, betrayal, loyalty, forbidden love, and desperation.

Overall, Paris Never Leaves You is an immersive, gritty, satisfying tale by Feldman that does a lovely job of blending historical events, intense emotion, and thought-provoking suspense.

 

This novel is available now.

Pick up a copy from your favourite retailer or from one of the following links.

               

 

 

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.

 

About Ellen Feldman

Ellen Feldman, a 2009 Guggenheim Fellow in fiction, is the author of Scottsboro, which was shortlisted for the UK’s prestigious Orange Prize, Next to Love, The Boy Who Loved Anne Frank, which was translated into nine languages, Terrible Virtue, The Unwitting, and Lucy.

In addition to her novels, she writes articles on social history and has published numerous book reviews and blogs. She has lectured extensively around the country and in Germany and England.

She grew up in northern New Jersey and attended Bryn Mawr College, from which she holds a B.A. and an M.A. in modern history. After further graduate studies at Columbia University, she worked for a New York publishing house.

She lives in New York City and Amagansett, New York, with her husband and rescue terrier Charlie.

Photograph by Laura Mozes.

#BookReview Sorry Not Sorry by Sophie Ranald @SophieRanald @readforeverpub @grandcentralpub #ReadForever #Forever20 #SophieRanald #SorryNotSorry

#BookReview Sorry Not Sorry by Sophie Ranald @SophieRanald @readforeverpub @grandcentralpub #ReadForever #Forever20 #SophieRanald #SorryNotSorry Title: Sorry Not Sorry

Author: Sophie Ranald

Published by: Forever on Jul. 28, 2020

Genres: Contemporary Romance

Pages: 384

Format: Paperback

Source: Forever

Book Rating: 8/10

Charlotte has always been a good girl. But after discovering a motivating podcast she suddenly feels restless and sees that being good is getting boring . . .
 
She’s not just stuck in a rut — she’s buried in it up to her chin. The only company she has in bed is the back catalog of Netflix, and falling in love feels like the stuff of fairy tales. So when she stumbles across the popular podcast Sorry Not Sorry, which challenges women to embrace their inner bad girl, she jumps at the chance to shake things up.
 
Old Charlotte would never ask for a stranger’s number, go on a blind date or buy lacy lingerie . . . but New Charlotte is waving goodbye to her comfort zone (with a side order of margaritas). And it turns out that good things do happen to bad girls . . .
 
If you’re a fan of romantic comedies by Sophie Kinsella, Helena Hunting, or Christina Lauren, and love TV shows like Girls, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, and Jane the Virgin, you won’t be able to put down this hilarious read.

Review:

Cute, light, and playful!

Sorry Not Sorry is a spirited, witty rom-com about the focused, hardworking Charlotte who after working long hours and focusing solely on her career decides with the help of a podcast to step out of her comfort zone and take some risks when it comes to dating and finding love.

The writing style is funny and sharp. The characters are quirky, amusing, and endearing. And the plot is a humourous blend of life, love, introspection, friendship, embarrassing moments, awkward situations, misunderstandings, workplace drama, taking chances, and the ups-and-downs of finding Mr. Right.

Overall, Sorry not Sorry is an easy, engaging, entertaining read by Ranald that’s bursting with female friendships, self-discovery, and a sliver of romance.

 

This book is available now.

Pick up a copy from your favourite retailer or from one of the following links.

            

 

 

Thank you to Forever & Grand Central Publishing for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.

 

About Sophie Ranald

Sophie Ranald is the youngest of five sisters. She was born in Zimbabwe and lived in South Africa until an acute case of itchy feet brought her to London in her mid-20s. As an editor for a customer publishing agency, Sophie developed her fiction-writing skills describing holidays to places she’d never visited. In 2011, she decided to disregard all the good advice given to aspiring novelists and attempt to write full-time. After one false start, It Would Be Wrong to Steal My Sister’s Boyfriend (Wouldn’t It?) seemed to write itself, and six more novels have followed. Sophie also writes for magazines and online about food, fashion, finance and fitness. She lives in southeast London with her amazing partner Hopi and their two adorable cats.

#BookReview A Cowboy for Keeps (Chestnut Creek #3) by Laura Drake @LauraDrakeBooks @readforeverpub @grandcentralpub #ReadForever #Forever20 #LauraDrake #ChestnutCreek

#BookReview A Cowboy for Keeps (Chestnut Creek #3) by Laura Drake @LauraDrakeBooks @readforeverpub @grandcentralpub #ReadForever #Forever20 #LauraDrake #ChestnutCreek Title: A Cowboy for Keeps

Author: Laura Drake

Series: Chestnut Creek #3

Published by: Forever on Jul. 28, 2020

Genres: Contemporary Romance

Pages: 352

Format: Paperback

Source: Forever

Book Rating: 8.5/10

From a “fabulous new voice in romantic fiction” (NYT bestselling author Lael Miller): an arrogant cowboy meets a headstrong woman determined to take custody of his niece, only to realize that she may be the family he was always searching for.

There’s not much that could rattle a cowboy like Reese St. James. But when his twin brother dies in a car accident, Reese is stunned to discover he has a six-month old niece, Sawyer. Wanting to make up for lost time, Reese heads down to Unforgiven, New Mexico, to bring her home. He doesn’t plan on Sawyer’s guardian giving him any trouble, but the intriguing, independent woman is turning out to be more than he bargained for.

Lorelei West had given up hope of having a family of her own until her sister’s tragic death brought little Sawyer into her life. And now there’s no way she’s going to let Reese take her away. Lorelei knows hotshot, good-looking cowboys like him — she’s dated enough of them — and she intends to stand her ground. Yet the more time Reese and Lorelei spend together, the harder it is to deny the attraction building between them. But opening their hearts to a baby is one thing — can they also open their hearts to the possibility of a happily-ever-after?


Review:

Touching, charming, and sincere!

A Cowboy for Keeps is a sweet, heartfelt story that takes you into the lives of Lorelei West and Reese St. James, two strangers who come from completely different backgrounds who must learn to cope with the loss of a sibling, their surprising new status as potential guardians to a child they never knew existed, and a budding relationship that will require a lot of trust and understanding.

The writing is passionate and tender. The characters are multilayered, stubborn, and reliable. And the plot told from two different points of view unravels nicely into a tale about life, loss, grief, responsibility, friendship, family, compromise, parenthood, happiness, and the importance of communication.

A Cowboy for Keeps is the third novel in the Chestnut Creek series, and once again Drake has written a heartwarming, satisfying, engaging, western romance that’s brimming with hope, heat, and heartache.

 

This book is available now.

Pick up a copy from your favourite retailer or from one of the following links.

            

 

 

Thank you to Forever & Grand Central Publishing for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.

 

About Laura Drake

Laura Drake grew up in the suburbs outside Detroit. A tomboy, she’s always loved the outdoors and adventure. In 1980 she and her sister packed everything they owned into Pintos and moved to California. There she met and married a motorcycling, bleed-maroon Texas Aggie and her love affair with the West began.
In 2014, Laura realized a lifelong dream of becoming a Texan, and is currently working on her accent. She gave up the corporate CFO gig to write full time. She’s a wife, grandmother, and motorcycle chick in the remaining waking hours.

Photograph by Jane Carlyle.